And when should you hire vs. outsource the CFO role at your dealership business?
Mergers and acquisitions can be a solid growth strategy, even for startups and mid-sized businesses that lack some of the resources and established processes of larger companies. However, all M&A transactions carry potential risks and uncertainties, such as cost savings that may not be as high as estimated or the vagaries of a new market. To identify, evaluate, and mitigate these risks, acquiring companies must conduct due diligence.
What is Due Diligence and Why is It Important?
Due diligence is the process of investigating, verifying, and analyzing a potential investment opportunity or deal to confirm relevant facts. It is conducted by an acquiring company or third party on its behalf to obtain a detailed understanding of the target company’s operations, assets, liabilities, and potential risks. This process helps stakeholders to identify any potential problems or red flags that could negatively impact the value of the target company or the ultimate success of the acquisition.
The due diligence process usually involves reviewing the target company’s financial statements, legal contracts, tax records, intellectual property, employee compensation and benefits, and other relevant documents. The acquiring company will also review customer and supplier relationships, conduct interviews with key personnel and customers, and analyze market trends and competition.
The length of the due diligence process can vary depending on the size and complexity of the transaction. However, as a general rule, the entire process will take several weeks to months to complete. Some common issues that may be uncovered during the due diligence phase include:
Financial Risks
Financial risks are those related to the target company’s financial performance. Some examples include accounting errors, debt and tax obligations, and cash flow problems.
Legal Risks
Legal risks are those that can lead to liabilities, such as pending lawsuits, regulatory compliance issues, and even environmental matters.
Operational Risks
Operational risks are potential issues related to the target company’s continued operations, such as supply chain disruptions or production problems.
Reputational Risks
These risks include any publicity or public perception that could negatively impact the target company’s brand or customer relationships.
If the acquiring company identifies any of these risks during the due diligence process, it can make informed decisions about whether to proceed with the transaction and/or negotiate better terms. It also helps the acquiring company to better understand the target company’s operations to plan for the successful integration and post-acquisition operations of the company.
What are the Types of Due Diligence?
There are many different types of due diligence that an acquiring company may conduct. While the length and scope of the process largely depend on the complexity of the transaction, some of the most common types of due diligence include:
Financial Due Diligence
This type of due diligence involves analyzing the financial aspects of the target company, such as financial statements and tax returns. Financial due diligence aims to identify risks and liabilities that may impact the value or success of the deal. For example, a review of the target company’s financial statements could reveal the presence of a large loan secured against its assets. If the acquiring company was unaware of the loan, they would be required to pay it off post-acquisition or risk the lender repossessing the collateral.
Regulatory Due Diligence
Regulatory due diligence involves reviewing the target company’s licenses, permits, and certifications that may be required for the company’s continued operations. The process also includes a review of the target company’s compliance policies and procedures and history of past regulatory violations or enforcement actions. This helps the acquiring company to identify risks that could have an impact on the value of the deal or the target company’s future operations.
Tax Due Diligence
Tax due diligence involves reviewing relevant financial and tax documentation for the target company. This can include tax returns, tax assessments, financial statements, and correspondence with tax authorities. Moreover, the process can include interviews with key personnel such as the company’s controller or accounting firm.
The goal of tax due diligence is to identify potential tax liabilities, penalties, and/or interest, as well as assess the adequacy of tax reserves.
Legal Due Diligence
Legal due diligence involves reviewing corporate documents, contracts, insurance policies, permits, pending litigation, employment matters, legal opinions, and potential environmental issues. This process allows the acquiring company to identify any potential liabilities as well as risks that may impact the continued operations of the target company.
Intellectual Property Due Diligence
This type of due diligence involves reviewing patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other types of IP that may be owned or licensed by the target company. The acquiring company will assess the validity, scope, and enforceability of these assets, and identify any potential legal issues that may negatively affect their value.
Information Technology Due Diligence
IT due diligence helps the acquiring company understand the target company’s infrastructure, hardware and software systems, cybersecurity measures, data management practices, and compliance with applicable regulations. In addition to identifying potential risks, the acquiring company can make informed decisions to ensure the seamless integration of these systems post-acquisition.
Human Resources Due Diligence
The HR due diligence process includes reviewing the target company’s organizational structure, employment agreements, compensation and benefits, compliance with labor laws, employee policies and procedures, and any pending HR-related disputes.
Operational Due Diligence
This process typically includes reviewing the target company’s distribution channels, production processes, customer service, logistics and supply chain management, financial reporting, and compliance processes. The acquiring company will look at existing agreements with third parties such as suppliers to fully understand the target company’s contractual obligations. Operational due diligence will provide stakeholders with an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the target company’s operational assets, including those that may affect their value.
Market Due Diligence
When conducting market due diligence the acquiring company will look at the target’s product and service offerings, market positioning, competitors, customer base, and marketing and sales strategies. The team may utilize tools such as surveys, interviews, or focus groups to uncover information and make informed decisions.
DCG Can Help You to Navigate the Due Diligence Process
Due diligence plays a crucial role in helping acquiring companies identify potential risks in M&A transactions. Stakeholders can utilize what they learn to make informed decisions to mitigate these risks and ensure a smooth transition post-acquisition. Due diligence, however, is a highly complex process that requires a significant investment of time, expertise, and resources.
DCG is an experienced financial advisory company with an automotive industry focus. Our skilled team of industry veterans and M&A experts has helped countless companies to successfully navigate the due diligence process and achieve exponential growth through efficient M&A acquisition processes.
Contact the Acquisitions Division of DCG today to speak directly to an automotive M&A specialist and learn how our team can help you to navigate the due diligence process to get the most out of your next dealership transaction.